Mask for a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus



March 1966 HENRY-ANTHONY DEL GIUDICE 3,

MASK FOR A SELF-CONTAINED UNDERWATER BREATHING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 18,1963 Hmgy-A Mil/01V) ae/ 6/00/55,

., 32 INVENTOR.

,JJZQQ/s Mar/r, 3055541. 5 1659M.

United States Patent 3,241,552 MASK FOR A SELF-CONTAINED UNDERWATERBREATHING APPARATUS Henry-Anthony del Giudice, Long Beach, Calif.,asslgnor to Celestronics Inc., Torrance, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Filed Feb. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 259,008 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-142)Thepresent invention relates to a face mask for use .in connection withself-contained underwater breathing .apparatus.

1 Prior face masks used in connection with underwater breathingequipment or apparatus have been of a size .to completely cover the noseand mouth of a user and, ,in some instances, with the aid of atransparent plate, .the eyes, nose and mouth of a user have beenenclosed by a single mask. These cumbersome masks obstruct a large areaof the .users face and thereby limit the available space to be occupiedby a viewing mask. In addition, face masks which enclose the nose andmouth of a user in the same chamber are deficient, in that carbondioxide which is exhaled from both the oral and nasal breathing passagesof the user may not fully escape such chamber before the inhalationprocess begins.

Accordingly, it is an object of this device to provide a face mask whichcovers solely the mouth of a user.

It is another object of this invention to provide a small and simpleface mask including a housing comprised of a flexible and substantiallyimpermeable material, into which the mouth and chin of the user may beinserted so that the periphery thereof engages and conforms to thecontour of the users face.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a mask whichcovers solely the mouth and chin of a user and which permits the userthereof to have substantially normal use of his tongue, teeth, lips, andlower jaw and thus enable him to talk with others while utilizing hisself-contained air supply with the mask secured in watertight breathingposition.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a small maskcovering that area of the users face below the nose, so that a largeunobstructed face area will remain, which area may be occupied by alarge viewing mask.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mask which coverssolely the mouth of the user so that during the exhalation of carbondioxide from the breathing passages of such user a portion thereof mayemanate from the mouth and through the air regulator opening of suchmask, and a portion thereof may pass out through the nose of the userexterior of said face mask. A further object of this invention is toprovide a mask which covers solely the mouth of a user and whichprovides a primary securing means located exterior of the mask andengageable with the head of a user.

A still further object of this invention is, to provide a face maskwhich covers solely the mouth of a user and which provides an additionalflexible securing means removably fastened to the mask and receivablewithin the mouth of the user.

Still another important object of this invention is to provide a facemask for use in connection with selfcontained underwater breathingapparatus including a housing comprised of a thin, flexible,substantially impermeable material having a face-receiving opening atone end thereof and a smaller opposing air regulator opening at theother end thereof, the face-receiving opening being of a size to coversolely that area of the face below the nose of a user, and a means forholding the mask in watertight breathing position on the users face.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a face mask foruse in connection with self-contained underwater breathing apparatus,including a housing comprised of a flexible, substantially impermeablematerial having a face-receiving opening at one end thereof and asmaller opposing air regulator opening at the other end thereof, theface-receiving opening being of a size to cover solely that area of theface below the nose of a user and the housing providing tapering wallsadjacent the face-receiving opening so as to cause the mask to blendinto the facial contour of a user, and a means for holding the mask inwatertight breathing position on the users face.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a face mask foruse in connection with self-contained underwater breathing apparatus,including the combination of a housing comprised of a thin, flexible,substantially impermeable material having a front vertical wall with anair regulator opening therein, an upper wall extending rearwardly fromthe front wall and terminating in a face-engaging abutment flange, and apair of side walls extending outwardly and rearwardly from the frontvertical wall, each of the side walls terminating in a peripheral edgewhich defines a face-receiving opening for the mask substantiallyopposite the air regulator opening, and the face-receiving opening beingof a size to cover solely that area of the face below the nose of theuser, and a means for holding the mask in watertight breathing positionon the wearers face.

The foregoing objects, advantages, features, and results of the presentinvention, together with the various other objects, advantages, featuresand results thereof which will be evident to those skilled in the art towhich the invention pertains, may be achieved with the exemplaryembodiment described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an operational View of the present invention, showing theinvention mounted on the body of an underwater diver;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention shown as securedto the head of a user;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the invention taken along theline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the present invention taken from therear thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of a securing means which may beutilized in the present invention.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, the numeral10 designates a selfcontained underwater breathing unit employed here toprovide an artificial air supply to an underwater human diver. Theself-contained underwater breathing unit 10 includes an air supply unit12 comprising at least one pressurized air tank 14 mounted on the backof the users body. An air supply regulator unit 16 is connected betweenthe air supply unit 12 and the breathing passages of the diver by a line18.

The air supply regulator unit 16 may be of the standard design in commonuse today. The high pressure air inlet line 18 is connected to a one-wayinlet valve (not shown) of the regulator unit, which valve is actuatedby a demand diaphragm unit 20. The exhaust emanating from the breathingpassages of the user may be exhaled from the air supply regulator unitthrough a one-way outlet valve 21 near the base thereof, which one-wayoutlet valve empties into a T-shaped dispersing tube 22 having outlets23 and 24. In addition, the air supply regulator unit 16 provides an airsupply conduit 26 extending rearwar-dly toward the face of a user.Further, it should be noted that an air regulator unit 16 mountedadjacent the air supply unit 12 and connected with the breathingpassages of the user through a dual hose system, i.e., an air inlet hoseand an exhaust hose, could also be used in place of the type illustratedherein.

A face mask 28 is provided as a watertight connecting means between theoral breathing passages of a user and the air supply conduit 26. Theface mask 28 includes a housing 30 comprised of a thin, flexible,substantially impermeable material, such as molded neoprene rubber, anddefines an air chamber or concavity 32 therewithin. The housing 30provides a face-receiving opening defined by a peripheral edge 34located rearwardly of the air supply conduit 26. The housing 30 alsoprovides an air regulator opening 36 defined by a longitudinal neck 38,a front vertical wall 40 extending downwardly from the air regulatoropening 36, an upper wall 42 extending rearwardly from the opening 36and terminating in a flat upper abutment flange 44 at the peripheraledge 34, a pair of curved side walls 46, 47, which extend rearwardly andoutwardly from the front vertical wall 4t) terminating in curved sideportions 48 of the peripheral edge 34, and a bottom wall 50 extendingrearwardly from the front wall 40 and terminating at a bottom portion 52of the peripheral edge 34.

The housing 30 is designed to provide a mask with a face-receivingopening therein, which mask will fit over the mouth and chin of a userand substantially blend in and conform to the facial configuration ofsuch user to avoid water leakage and any drag that would be caused by aprotruding edge. To implement this end, the upper wall 42 terminates inthe flat upper abutment flange 44 which has a substantial face-engagingsurface and engages that portion of the users face between the nose andthe upper lip. The remainder of the housing, i.e., the curved side walls46 and 47 and the bottom wall 50, tapers so that at the peripheral edge34 the curved side portions 48 and the bottom portion 52 are comprisedof a housing Wall which converges substantially to a feather edge.Further, the bottom wall 50 extends rearwardly toward the face of a usera greater distance than the terminating point of the upper wall 42; andthe curved side walls 46 and 47 extend rearwardly toward the face of theuser, at their rearwardmost points, a distance greater than either theupper wall 42 or the bottom wall 50. The resulting configurationprovides a pcripheral edge 34 having a triangular shape when viewed fromthe side, to wit: the upper abutment flange 44 engaging that area of theusers face just above the upper lip, the curved side portions 48extending rearwardly and engaging the shallow portions of the userscheeks, and the bottom portion 52 extend-ing rearwardly a distance lessthan the curved side portions 48 but greater than the upper abutmentflange 44 and engaging that portion of the users face below the chinthereof.

The air supply conduit 26 of the air supply regulator unit 16 is adaptedto pass through the air regulator opening 36 of the housing 30 and befrictionally secured within the longitudinal neck 38. As a securityfactor, to insure a sealed fit and thus make the connection watertight,the air supply conduit 26 may have a circumferential bead 54 on theexterior thereof and a collar 56 may be secured about the exterior ofthe longitudinal neck 38, forwardly of the bead 54, so as to lock theconduit 26 therewithin.

As a primary securing means, the face mask 28 may provide buckles 68 onthe exterior of the side wall 47 adapted to receive and secure elasticstraps 70 which encircle the head of the user and are fastened to thehousing at the curved side wall 46. This primary securing means permitsusers having artificial dentures or who stiffer from jaw muscle crampsto employ the mask 28 without relying on a securing means which is heldsolely within the mouth of a user. In addition, the primary securingmeans will hold the mask 28 in a watertight breathing position in theevent the user thereof is rendered unconscious.

A flexible horizontal tab 58 may be removably fastened to the housing 30and adapted to be received within the mouth of a user to aid in securingand holding the face mask in position. In FIG. 3 of the drawing, thehorizontal tab 58 is shown as removably fitting within the longitudinalneck 38 and extending rearwardly therefrom toward the face of a user andterminating in a transverse flange 60. The flange 60 is adapted to bereceived within the mouth of a user and the adjacent portion of the tab58 clamped between the users teeth. The opposing end of the tab 58provides a plurality of transverse ridge 62 extending downwardlytherefrom.

The neck 38 provides a longitudinal slot 64 extending the entire lengththereof. The slot 64 is adapted to receive the tab 58 therein andprovides a plurality of transverse recesses 66 commensurate with thetransverse ridges 62 and adapted to receive the ridges 62. Thus, the tab58 may be removably positioned within the slot 64 with the ridges 62interlocking with the corresponding recesses 66. In addition, the tab 58is firmly held in position since the air supply conduit 26, whenfrictionally engaged with the interior of the neck 38, is in a tightslide fit with the upper side of the tab 58 and urges it downwardly intoits interlocked relationship. The tab 58 is not an essential element ofthe mask and may be omitted when desired.

In actual operation, the user will place the face mask 28 solely overthat area of his face below the nose. More specifically, only the mouthand chin of the user will fit into the concavity 32 of the housing 30leaving the forward portion vacant. The user may place the transverseflange 60 of the horizontal tab 58 within his mouth and bite down on theadjacent portion of the tab 58 so as to aid in securing the face mask tohis face. The user may utilize the primary securing means and encirclehis head with the elastic straps 70 and secure them at the buckles 68for complete securing of the face mask.

When the face mask 28 is firmly positioned and secured on the head ofthe user, the flexible peripheral edge 34 of the face-receiving openingwill conform to his facial configuration. For example, the upperabutment flange 44 will engage the area above the upper lip and belowthe nose, the curved side wall portions 48 taper substantially to afeather edge and engage the shallow portions of the users cheek, and thebottom portion 52, also tapering substantially to a feather edge,engages the users neck area below the chin.

With the face mask 28 positioned in the manner described above, the useris ready to submerge in Water and utilize his self-contained air supply.During normal use of the breathing apparatus, the user may desire tospeak with the aid of a throat or mask microphone. In this situation,the flexible tab 58 may remain in the users mouth although such user ispermitted substantially normal use of his tongue, teeth, and lips fortalking while the securing straps 70 still maintain the housing 30 inpressure contact with his face. In some instances, a user may relaysolely on the straps 70 for securing the mask to his head. Thus, the tab58 could be removed from the longitudinal neck 38 before placing themask on the face of the user. The neck 38, being comprised of flexiblematerial, would still constrict about the air supply conduit 26 in awatertight fit. In addition, the housing 30, being comprised of aflexible material and adapted to fit under the chin of a user, permitsthe user to move his lower jaw while speaking without breaking thewatertight seal between the mask 28 and the face of such user.

Further, with the face mask 28 secured in watertight position coveringsolely the mouth and chin of a user, such user may freely clean oradjust his transparent viewing plate while leaving the the breathingunit intact and unmoved. Also, the user, having free access to his noseoutside of the mask 28, may clamp his nostrils and thereby clear anycongestion collecting in the Eustachian tubes which connect the middleear of the user with his nasopharynx.

With the face mask 28 firmly secured and with the air supply unit 12operating, the user upon inhalation will draw fresh air through the airsupply conduit 26 into the air chamber or concavity 32. This fresh airwill then enter the oral breathing passages of such user. During theexhaust stage of the operation, the user may exhale both through hisnasal and oral breathing passages. Thus, some exhaust air may passthrough the air supply conduit 26 and out the one-way outlet valve 21,and some exhaust air may pass from the nasal passages of the userdirectly into the surrounding medium.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that variouschanges, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in suchembodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedby the claims which follow.

I claim: 1. A face mask for use with self-contained underwater breathingapparatus, including the combination of I a housing comprised of aflexible, substantially impermeable material defining a face-receivingopening at one end thereof and a smaller air regulator opening at theopposing end thereof, said air regulator opening being defined by anopen longitudinal neck extending forwardly from said housing, and saidface-receiving opening being of a size to cover solely that area of theface below the nose of a wearer; and

securing means removably fastened to said housing within saidlongitudinal neck, including a substantially horizontal tab whichextends into said longitudinal neck and rearwardly therefrom for beingreceived within the mouth of a wearer, said tab having at least onetransverse ridge extending downwardly therefrom, and said housing havingat least a pair of recesses located in the bottom portion of saidlongitudinal neck along the longitudinal axis thereof receiving saidridge in a longitudinally adjustable and removable position.

2. A face mask as set forth in claim 1, wherein said horizontal tabprovides a plurality of downwardly extending transverse ridges, andwherein the bottom portion of said longitudinal neck is provided with alongitudinal groove throughout the length thereof adapted to receivesaid tab, said groove having a plurality of transverse recesses thereincommensurate with said transverse ridges in said horizontal tab andinterlocking with at least one of said ridges when said longitudinal tabis positioned within said groove.

3. In a self-contained means for breathing under water, the combinationof:

an air supply unit adapted to be mounted on the body of a user;

an air supply regulator unit connected to said air sup ply unit andadapted to be mounted adjacent the face of a user and providing aconduit means for connecting with the breathing passages of said user;

a face mask including a housing defining a concavity therewithin andcomprised of a flexible, substantially impermeable material, saidhousing defining a facereceiving opening at the rearward end thereofcommunicating with said concavity of a size to receive solely the mouthand chin of a user and a smaller air regulator opening for communicatingwith said conduit means of said air supply regulator unit and saidconcavity, and including a front vertical wall extending downwardly fromsaid air regulator opening, an upper wall extending rearwardly from saidair regulator opening and terminating at said face-receiving opening ina substantially vertical flat upper abutment edge, a pair of curved sidewalls extending rearwardly and outwardly from said front vertical walland terminating at said face-receiving opening in curved side edgescontiguous with said upper abutment edge, and a substantially horizontalbottom wall extending rearwardly from said front vertical wall andterminating at said face-receiving opening at the bottom edge thereofcontiguous with said side edges;

first securing means removably fastened to said housing adjacent saidair regulator opening and. adapted to be received and held within themouth of a user, said securing means including a horizontal tab having aplurality of downwardly extending transverse ridges thereon and said airregulator opening defined by an open longitudinal neck extendingforwardly from said housing in communication with said air supplyconduit means, said longitudinal neck having a bottom portion with alongitudinal groove therein extending throughout the length thereof andreceiving said tab therein, and said groove having a plurality oftransverse recesses therein commensurate with said ridges on said taband interlocking therewith when said tab is positioned within saidgroove, and said air supply conduit means is received within saidlongitudinal neck and engages the upper side of the horizontal tab; and

second securing means on the exterior of said housing engageable withthe head of said user.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,139,850 5/1915Conkle 128145 2,949,113 8/1960 Bisset 128-142 3,101,732 8/1963 DallaValle 128-145 XR 3,123,680 3/1964 Minton 12814'7 XR 3,174,129 3/1965Laughlin et a1.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

1. A FACE MASK FOR USE WITH SELF-CONTAINED UNDERWATER BREATHINGAPPARATUS, INCLUDING THE COMBINATION OF: A HOUSING COMRPISED ON AFLEXIBLE, SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERMEABLE MATERIAL DEFINING A FACE-RECEIVINGOPENING AT ONE END THEREOF AND A SMALLER AIR REGULATOR OPENING AT THEOPPOSING END THEREOF, SAID AIR REGULATOR OPENING BEING DEFINED BY ANOPEN LONGITUDINAL NECK EXTENDING FORWARDLY FROM SAID HOUSING, AND SAIDFACE-RECEIVING OPENING BEING OF A SIZE TO COVER SOLELY THAT AREA OF THEFACE BELOW THE NOSE OF A WEARER; AND SECURING MEANS REMOVABLY FASTENEDTO SAID HOUSING WITHIN SAID LONGITUDINAL NECK, INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLYHORIZONTAL TAB WHICH EXTENDS INTO SAID LONGITUDINAL NECK AND REARWARDLYTHEREFROM FOR BEING RECEIVED WITHIN THE MOUTH OF A WEARER, SAID TABHAVING AT LEAST ONE TRANSVERSE RIDGE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM, ANDSAID HOUSING HAVING AT LEAST A PAIR OF RECESSES LOCATED IN THE BOTTOMPORTION OF SAID LONGITUDINAL NECK ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOFRECEIVING SAID RIDGE IN A LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE AND REMOVABLEPOSITION.